Amazon has filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission for a constellation of 5,105 low Earth orbit satellites that would carry satellite connectivity directly to iPhones, Apple Watch models, and other compatible devices.
The filing, submitted under Amazon’s Leo satellite project, covers voice, data, messaging, and emergency services delivered without a cell tower.
Apple currently relies on Globalstar’s satellite network to power features including Emergency SOS via satellite, Messages via satellite, Find My, and Roadside Assistance via satellite.
Amazon is in the process of acquiring Globalstar, and the two companies have already formalized an agreement that keeps Globalstar operational while layering Amazon Leo’s expanded infrastructure on top of it. Both networks would feed into future iPhone and Apple Watch satellite features.
What Changes for iPhone Owners
Today, iPhone satellite features are limited to emergencies and basic messaging when no cell signal is available.
The Amazon Leo system is built to deliver faster speeds and higher data throughput than current satellite connections allow, which would open the door to a wider range of satellite-based functions on future devices.
Amazon’s announcement specifically highlights the Apple partnership and lists the features that will run across the expanded network.
Any device with a satellite-capable chipset would be compatible with the system, according to Amazon.
Apple has already begun building satellite hardware into its chips, so iPhones and Apple Watch models that support the current Globalstar features would be positioned to take advantage of the upgraded network once it goes live.
Timeline and Coverage
Amazon has structured the 5,105 satellites across five orbital shells. Three are designed to serve densely populated regions, while the remaining two extend coverage toward polar areas of the planet.
Satellite deployments are scheduled to begin in 2028, pending FCC approval. The Globalstar acquisition is expected to close in 2027, after regulators sign off on the deal separately.
For iPhone users anywhere cellular coverage drops out entirely, a denser satellite network with faster throughput would mean satellite connectivity that behaves less like an emergency fallback and more like a reliable secondary connection.
The current Globalstar setup handles that role adequately for distress situations, but speed limitations make richer data services impractical. Amazon’s proposed network is built to address that ceiling.
